STEINBRENNER CONFIRMS WHAT BLEEDING YANKEE BLUE JUST SAID

"I know the Yankees probably weren't entirely sure about it, but they probably thought, "Well we have a stellar lineup and we can get this kid up to speed and it's a good experiment, why not?" 

--Robert Casey, BYB Chief

I'm not telling you I told you so, but I told you so. After we shared HEY ANTHONY VOLPE, IT'S NOT YOU... IT'S US. KEEP FIGHTING! discussing how it was a group decision between front office and Yankee fans around the country, we are too invested and have too many opinions about this kid.  But in the end, it's about Volpe tweaking things and letting it play out.  At the end of the day however, the Yankees will do what they want.  And it appears they are doing what they set out to do... keep Volpe where he is.  

It's been confirmed now, the Yankees and namely Steinbrenner weren't really sure who the starting shortstop would be... but they took a chance on a kid based on popularity, the ups and downs of a rookie season and the idea that he was surrounded by a good team.

First off, the New York Post writes:

"Hal Steinbrenner isn’t worried about Anthony Volpe’s struggles at the plate."

And there's more:

"The Yankees owner said Tuesday the team has not considered sending the rookie shortstop to the minors amid a dreadful stretch that has seen his slash line fall to .189/.260/.345 over 67 games, with nine home runs and 14 stolen bases.

“I’ve had zero conversations about that,” Steinbrenner said at the owners’ meeting Tuesday in Manhattan. “I think defensively he’s been pretty solid. Pitchers have adjusted to him, now he’s going to have some adjustments to make himself. I don’t think any of this is out of the ordinary.”

Two things in play here. Steinbrenner will never admit to a decision that is failing. He will stick with it. He's like his old man, you have to admire that.

Secondly, this is exactly what we said this morning. This isn't about Volpe sucking; this is about us helping Yankee brass making a decision and trusting that it will all work out. In the end, it will, or it won't, but it's us, not Volpe. Volpe has the blessing of the boss.

According to Yardbarker, Steinbrenner talked about Peraza too:

"Well you never know, but right now he's [Peraza] at Triple-A. He's having a good year," Steinbrenner added during his comments. "We'll see. I wasn't sure at the beginning of the season that either one of them would be starting for us. I knew they were coming and I knew they were coming strong, but I don't believe I was ever out there saying it with the plan to have both of them playing at the beginning of 2023."

So what's in play now? Dillon Lawson, the "stand by and watch" hitting coach needs to work. He needs to energize Anthony Volpe and get him going again.  Hal Steinbrenner is demanding it without calling out Lawson.  It also takes some pressure off Volpe who has support from the boss.  You can't ask for more than that right now. 

In the end, for me, my opinion is Steinbrenner's opinion. Volpe just needs to continue to get reps. I believe while it may seem painful some games, he's working through it.  

As they say in baseball... trust the process.